By Isatou Sarr
Two women have appeared before Magistrate Kanjura B. Sambou at the Brikama Magistrate’s Court, charged with allegedly causing harm through negligence and exposing a child to possible injury.
Mama Dumbuya and Bintou Trawally appeared before the court on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, facing two joint charges.
Sgt. 7232 E. Fofana appeared for the Inspector General of Police (IGP), while both accused persons appeared without legal representation.
On the first count, the two women were jointly charged with negligent act causing harm, contrary to Section 191 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025.
The particulars of the charge allege that on June 26th, 2026, at Farato in the West Coast Region, the accused gave a child an electric kettle containing hot water without due care and attention.
The prosecution alleges that the kettle subsequently fell on a child identified as Binta Jammeh, causing serious burns to her body.
On the second count, the accused were jointly charged with exposing children, contrary to Section 177 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025.
The prosecution alleged that on the same date and at the same location, the accused willfully exposed a 12-year-old child to circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to her health.
The charges were read to the accused in English and interpreted into Mandinka by the court interpreter.
Both accused persons told the court that they understood the charges and pleaded not guilty.
Sgt. Fofana applied for an adjournment to allow the prosecution to call its witnesses. He did not object to the accused persons being granted bail.
Magistrate Sambou subsequently granted each accused bail in the sum of D50,000.00 with one Gambian surety each.
The court further ordered each surety to deposit a valid Gambian passport or national identification card with the registrar of the court and depose to means.
The case was adjourned to a later date for hearing.